MANKATO, Minn. – The No. 5 Minnesota State women's basketball team continues its NSIC slate this week, traveling to Winona State on Thursday, Dec. 4 for a 7:30 p.m. contest at McCown Gymnasium. The Mavericks then return to the Taylor Center on Saturday, Dec. 6 to host No. 16 Concordia St. Paul, with tipoff set for 3 p.m. Both games will be available live on the NSIC Network.

About the Mavericks
Minnesota State has opened the season with a perfect 7-0 record, including a 1-0 start in NSIC play. The Mavericks last began a season 7-0 during the 2022-23 campaign. In last week's WBCA Coaches Poll, MSU checked in at No. 5, with the next national ranking scheduled for release on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Head Coach Emilee Thiesse enters her 14 season at the helm and is set to coach her 385th game as a Maverick this week.

MSU opened conference action with a dominant 110-81 win over St. Cloud State on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The Mavericks shot an even .500 from the field and .750 at the line while spreading scoring across eleven players. They closed out the month of November with an 85-73 victory over UW-Parkside inside the Taylor Center, shooting .467 from beyond the arc and .448 overall while collecting nineteen steals as a team.

Through seven games, Minnesota State continues to produce at an elite level on both ends of the floor. The Mavericks are averaging 100.4 points per game and winning by a margin of 30.9 points. As a team, MSU is shooting .486 from the field, .331 from three point range, and .780 at the line. The Mavericks also average 41 rebounds, 18.7 assists, 20.6 turnovers, 23 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.

Natalie Bremer continues to set the tone offensively and defensively for the Mavericks. She opened NSIC play with 25 points against St. Cloud State and added four steals to anchor the defensive effort. She followed with a dominant 35 point performance against UW Parkside, shooting .800 from three point range and going a perfect five for five at the free throw line while finishing with a .591 field goal percentage. The 35 point outing marks a new career high for the Lake City, Minn. native earning her NSIC South Division Player of the Week honors this week.

Freshman guard Haylee Stokes continues to emerge as a reliable backcourt contributor. Stokes has totaled 15 steals so far this season, including two in the win over UW Parkside. She added 13 points against the Huskies followed with nine points against the Rangers, showcasing consistent scoring production early in her collegiate career.

Elisabeth Gadient has also provided strong production for MSU. The sophomore recorded a season high 17 points in the win over St. Cloud State while shooting .571 from the field. She added three rebounds in the conference matchup, contributing on both ends with one offensive board and two defensive. Gadient finished with 11 points against UW-Parkside and added a block and a steal to bolster the team's defensive presence. She closed the weekend with four rebounds, evenly split between offensive and defensive. Through seven games, Gadient is averaging 10.7 points per game while shooting .492 from the field and has already totaled 11 steals this season.

Mankato, Minn. native Mackenzie Schweim remains one of the team's most steady scoring options, ranking as the fourth leading scorer for the Mavericks. Schweim totaled 19 points across last week's two contests and added five rebounds in the matchup against the Rangers, providing key minutes on both ends of the floor.
Sophomore Rhyan Holmgren is off to a strong start as well, averaging 9.3 points per game. She continues to score efficiently, shooting .571 from the field while converting .828 at the free throw line.

Senior Adeline Kent has been a force on each end of the court. Kent is shooting .579 from the field and leads the team with 18 assists, directing the offense with poise. She has also totaled 13 steals this season, further solidifying her role as an all around impact player.

About the Warriors
Winona State is led by fourth year head coach Ana Wurtz, who continues to bring strong experience and consistency to the program as the Warriors enter the 2025–26 season with a 4–3 overall record and a 1–0 mark in NSIC play. The matchup with Minnesota State marks the second ranked opponent the Warriors have faced this season. At home, Winona State has been steady, posting a 2–1 record inside McCown Gym.

WSU carries momentum into the weekend, currently riding a two game win streak. The Warriors opened the stretch with an impressive overtime upset over No. 16 Concordia-St. Paul, earning a 77–75 victory. They continued their strong play with a 78–54 home win against Michigan Tech.

Through seven games, the Warriors are averaging 65 points per game and are outscoring opponents by a narrow margin of four points. Winona State is shooting .410 from the field, .297 from three, and .670 at the free throw line. As a team, the Warriors average 39.3 rebounds, 12.4 assists, 16.1 turnovers, six steals, and just under one block per game.

Senior guard Hailey Markworth leads the way statistically, averaging 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. Markworth had a standout performance in the upset against Concordia-St. Paul, recording 24 points along with nine rebounds, three steals, and three assists. 

Vivica Bretton directs the offense with a team best 27 assists on the season and ranks fourth in the NSIC with 4.4 assists per game. Bretton has reached double figures in scoring in three contests, including a season high 13 points against Michigan Tech, while adding seven rebounds and four assists in the win over the Huskies.

Minnesota State holds a 48–23 lead in the all time series with Winona State. The Mavericks claimed the most recent meeting in Feb. 2025 with a commanding 105–49 victory. Minnesota State also carries a seven game win streak in the series, with the Warriors last defeating the Mavericks in Feb. 2021.

About the Golden Bears
Concordia–St. Paul enters the matchup with a 4–2 overall record and an 0–1 mark in conference play. The contest against MSU will serve as the Golden Bears second game this season against a ranked opponent. CSP opened the year with a strong showing against then-No. 4 Fort Hays State, ultimately falling 78–84. 
Eleventh year head coach Amanda Johnson continues to guide the program following a historic 29–3 campaign last season in which the Golden Bears earned their first NCAA Tournament berth in over a decade.

To begin NSIC action, Concordia–Saint Paul hosted Winona State and battled into overtime before coming up short in a 75–77 loss. The Golden Bears bounced back quickly, defeating Michigan Tech 78–61 at home on Friday, Nov. 28. Before facing Minnesota State, CSP will welcome St. Cloud State on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
As a team, the Golden Bears average 78.7 points per game and hold a scoring margin of plus 9.5. CSP is shooting .410 from the field, .324 from three, and .694 at the free throw line. The team posts 42.2 rebounds, 18.5 assists, 12.3 turnovers, 9.5 steals, and 4.5 blocks per contest.

Lauren Wilson leads the Golden Bears offensively with 151 total points through six games. She has collected 16 offensive rebounds and 54 defensive rebounds while adding seven steals and seven blocks. Wilson was named NSIC South Division Player of the Week last week and currently ranks second in the conference in scoring with an average of 25.2 points per game. 

Lydia Haack continues to be a critical piece for CSP, leading the team in minutes played while shooting .387  from the field, .400 from beyond the arc, and a team best .792 from the free throw line. Haack averages 6.5 rebounds and has recorded 48 assists in six games, placing her at the top of the NSIC in assists per game.

The all time series between the Mavericks and Golden Bears is even at 25–25. CSP enters the matchup with a two game win streak over Minnesota State following a sweep last season. In their most recent meeting, the Mavericks traveled to Saint Paul. Minn. and fell 73–92. At home, Minnesota State holds a 13–10 advantage against CSP.